Punching device



Sept. 7, l943.\ G. F. wALEs PUNCHING DEVICE Filed April 1v, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept' 7, 1943- G. F. WALES 2,329,020

PUNCHING DEVICE Filed April 17,` 1942 5 Sheets-sheet 2 /N l/E/vm/i ML, 772,61@

Sept. 11, 1243. G. F. WALES 2,329,020

`IPUNCHING DEVICE l Filed April 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTO/@N575 I'i supports the movable member, which is a punch 20 having a punch bit 2|. This punch is arranged substantially horizontally in the construction illustrated by way ofwexample, but it will be 'obvious that-the punch-and die may be arranged to operate in any other desired angular relation'to the vertical. The punch 2l] also has a head'22 vwhich is preferably adjustably secured to the punch, for example, by a yscrew threaded i connection, as shown in Fig. 6, a lock nut 23' securing the parts in their desired relation to each other. the length of the punch as may be desired.

The die located in the part IS of the holder may be of any suitable or desired form. I prefer, however, vto employ a die of Vin iproved constructionwhich is adjustablel toward and from the punch and which can readily be lremoved from the holder. The die shown the drawings by way of example has a .substantiallyl-cylindrical portion 25 provided with an -openingforhole'l in the end thereofadjacentto the punch,this opening being fof such diameter -as'toproperly cooperate with the bit 2| of thepuncnfi'his opening 26 terminates atits inner end Iin an enlarged passage 2'! .into Y whichthe slugs.' punched out of the work are received. This passage 2l extends to the left end ofthe die elementi shown in Figs. lland slugs 29 aredischarged..VP 1 Y yIn order to secure the die 5, from v.which these which is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding internally threaded portion in the holder part I5.` The cylindrical portion 25 yof the die which ts snugly in anY accurately formed hole v inthe holderv part IIt serves to4 correctly locate t the axis of the die on the holderfand by means of the threads 3U, the die can-be adjusted to extend into the gap or slot Mitol thedesired eX- element inthe V"partf `lli of the holder, this Adieelernent is provided with a screw threaded portionjwhich isof larger diameter than ,the cylinudricalfpart 25 and This makes it possible to4 regulate of the punch is provided with a tapering or nclined surface M with which a correspondingly tapered surface 'll of the actuating pin 35 cooperates in such a manner that downward movement ofthe actuating pin 35 will'result in movement of' the punch toward the die, which in the particular example illustrated, is horizontal movement. Any other connection between the "j actuating pin andthe punch may be provided.

The punch may be guided in its movement to and from the die in Aany suitable or desired manpart l'of the holder in which the' die isA secured.

The guide sleeve 132 also acts to strip the work from the bitI of the punch and in vthe construc-v tion-illustrated in Figs. l to 10the guide sleeve is provided at `its inner end with aflange M which ispreferably of elongated form as shown inEig. 9,Y so as to becontained and arranged in ,one end of a relatively largeopening ,45.in-the,

part 'il of the holder.- This ange'is between the oppositesdefaceslof the holdrll.

to receveboltslll which also extend through' ak tent. The die maylbe secured in its adjusted position in any desired manner, for example,. by means ofl a lock nut 32 exerting pressure against I the Iouter face-of thepart I6 ofthe-holder. VTo facilitate the adjusting of the diein the direcl tion ofA its length, the outer end of the die whichprojects beyond the part I6 of the holder is preferably provided with as lot 33^tovreceive a s crewdriver. When it is desiredto remove the die element fromthe holder, it is merely necessary `to release the-,lock nut 32 and then 'turnthe die ina direction to- 1 nove it outof its hole in the partl of thehplder.v f

Since presses and other'means for actuating punching devices usually have a vertically movable ram Ao r'actuating part, means are provided for converting such vertical movement into movement inthe direction of the length ofthe punch. Any suitableor desired means may be providedV for this-purpose, and in the construction Ashown by way of example, a vertically` movable actuat--y ing pin 35 is provided, which isguided in ahole or aperture in the-upwardly extending part I1 of the-holder,l and which-is suitably connected with thepunch for actuating thesame.,A This actuating pin is preferably normally held in elevated position bymeans of a spring or other resilient member 36, andthe actuating pin is limited in rits movement and Yheld against turning in any. suitable manner, for example, by means of a keyway or groove 31 in the pin, which co'- operates with astationary part, such for example Vasthe'end oia dog point screw.38. vThe head 22 The end portions ofthe rflange 44 are formed pressure-pad 48 which is, somewhat similar in shape toV Ithe ange vlili-,as shown in Fig., l0. Springs of any .suitableform are provided between the pressure pad t8 andthe flange 413, such for example asc-oil springs'through whichthe bolts 41 extend, andlv preferably a similar spring Slis arranged about'the part 2li .ofthe punch. These springs are under initial compression sufcient to striplthe punch from the` Work after vthe hole has been vpunchedpy withdrawing the bit of the'punch into its guide l'sleeve d2. fA

smaller-springz is preferably interposed between the flange'llll and anfend wall Otthe opening 45 in thepart Il of the holder, to retract the guide sleeve 42 and the punch into the position shown in Figfl, which' facilitates the insertion of the work between the punch and die.

Suitable means may also be provided for pre-` venting. the flange Manel the stripper assembly 'fromturning out of its normal position Within `the opening d5 in the holder, such for example as a pin 53. slidable in a hole in the partl'l of the holder.

In the operation of this part of the mechanism,

it will be "obvious that as the punch head 22 is moved to the left from the position shown in Tig. 4, by downward rnc-vement ofthe actuating pin 35, the lock nut 23 at the head ofthe punch will engage the pressure pad 43 and move the same to the left, thus also moving the guide sleeve l2 to the left, for the reason that the springs 50 andil overcome theresistance of the spring 52.

` When'the endof the guide sleeve engages the work, such as a ange 55 of a cover orlid 56, orv any other piece of Work that may be inserted into the groove or` gap i8, movementof the guide sleeve Vand ange d ceases,'and further Inove-v ment ofthe punch causes the same to penetrate the Work and enter into the ehdofthadie. During this punching movement, the springs 50 and 5l are further compressed. The parts will then be in the positions shown in Fig. 6. Uponrei the entire head of the'gag'epin, and a lower portion 88 of reduced diameter to receive the stem of the pin. The gage pin may be secured in the 5 desired position in iany suitable manner, for examplaby means ofaset screw 89, see Fig. 14.

'Any other means forlimiting the extent to which the work to be punched mayenter the gap i3 may be provided.

In Fig. 11, I have illustrated a 'modified constructionof my punching device in which o-nly a single stripper spring is provided in place of the three springs shown in Figs.` 1 to 10. In this case, the holder is provided. with an opening SG v of smaller size than the opening l5 heretoforev described. Thek guide sleeve 42 in this case is provided with a smaller flange Stand a pressure pad 92. in the form of an vannular disk is provided which 'bears Vagainst the lock nut 23 ofthe punch. A stripper spring.V 94 is placed between the iiange Si and the pressure pad S2, and a smaller return spring 95 is positioned between the flange 9| and the adjacent end or the opening Sil in the holder. The operation of -this conl struction is similar to thatdescribedin connection with thev other figures.

Figs. l2 and 13 illustrate a manner of using my improved punching devices in connection with a press brake 'or a similar machine having an elongated bed and' ram lill.

is not of sui'licient width to engage both the actuating pins and also the hold. down linksV of the punching units, be providedvwith an adapter in the form of a bar |61 of sufcient length to en- .gage the several punching units. vAny other vmeans for mounting the punching units on the press brake may, ofcourse, be employed, if desired. v f v My improved punching devices may, of course, be employed in connection with any kind of work in which the parts to be punched'can'bey inserted into the gaps or slots IS thereof. In Figs.' 12 and 13, I have illustrated the punching devices as operating on an angle bar Hl and in Fig. 11, the device is shown operating on a strip IH.

The bed |00 may be providedY with an elongated rail or adapter |62k rigidly secured tothe ram and on which the f By way of example, the rail or i While my improved punching device is hereinA shown and described as used on a press having a bed anda movable ram, it will be understood that the use of the improvements herein described is not limited to power presses, since they may be used with any machine or device which i mayiapply the required power to the punching device. r`The terms bed and ram are herein employed to designate respectively the stationary and movable parts of such'machine or apparatus,

and the term press is used to designate any such machine or apparatus.

It will be obvious that punching devices herein described may be used for punching holes hori- Zontally in many different varieties'oi work by mounting the puncheson a template 6i) which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 or on a base plate |02 as shown in Figs. 12 Vand 13, the units being mounted 810i a` diameter` and'depth suicient to receive on'these platesin accordance with-therpattern of holes desired-in the work. The setting up ofv the punch units on the template or base plate may bedone outside of thepress and the template or lbase plate `with the parts mounted thereon may then lbeplaced on the bed of-a press. After the desired number of work-pieces have been` punched, the plate havingV the punch units mounted thereon-may be removed from the press Y and another plate having punch units already set up for operating on another type of work can be positioned on the bed of a press, so thatthe time during which the press is idle Yis materially reduced. Assoon as one type of vjob has been completed, the punch units may be removed from the templatel or base plate for use on anothertemplate or base plate. v

I claim as myl invention:

1. In a punching device, the combination of a holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the work, said parts having axially alined holes extending completely through said parts and terminating at said gap, a die in the hole of one of said parts and a punch in the hole in said other part in operative relation to said die, said other housing part havingan opening extending transversely through the'same and across the hole therein, and through which the punch extends, and a stripper spring arranged in said opening and acting onsaid punch for strippin the punch-from the work. -l 2. In, a punching device, the combination of a holder having va ypair of outwardly extending parts. spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the Work, a die in one of said parts and a punch in said other part in operative relation to said die, saidother housing part having a longitudinal hole in which said punch is slidably arranged and an .opening extending transversely through the other housing part and across which` the punch extends, a stripper .memberhaving a` terminatingvat'said gap, a'f punch inthe other 4 of said parts in,k operativefrelation to said die,. Y

said holder having a longitudinal hole in which the punch isarranged' and .a transverse opening',

intersecting said longitudinalhole through which said punch extends, a `guide sleeve for saidpunch extending from said opening to said gap and slidable toward andirom said die and having aK flange arrange-d in said opening, a pressure pad also arranged in said opening, and a stripper spring arranged `A between said ilange and said pad, said punch havin'g'a part engaging said pad to move said'pad with said punch during movement of said punch toward the work and to compress said'spring whenr the purich is penetrating the work, whereby the spring strips the punch from the work after completing the punching operation.

Ll. A punching device-including `a holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form betweenthem a gap to receive the work and having alined holes extending completely through said. parts and terminating at said gap,

Y on said housing part. A

along said holder vinto and out of position to engagev the work, a spring connecting said links,

the rambefore the' ram actuates said movable memben for moving said free end o f said other link against the action of said spring, into engagement with the work.

14. A punching device including punch anddie' members, one of which is'movable relatively to the other," a holder on which said members are m'ounted and'which is constructed for mounting onI the bed of a press Vin a Vposition in whichl the ram of the'press'may engage'and operate said i movable member, and 'work "positioning means including "a pair of pivotally connected links, one end of one link'being pivoted on said holder and the free end of the other link beingI movable along said holderinto and out of posi-" tion to engage the work, a spring connecting said links, said links having their pivotally connected portions extending `into Aposition to be vactuated by the ram'before'the ram' actuates said movable member;- forjmoving said free end of said other'link 'against the action of said sp-ring,'into engagement with the work, and a roller'on the free end of said other link for rolling on said holder and on the work.'V

15. A punching'device including a holder hav-d ing a Vpaircf outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the work, a die member mounted in one of said parts ysaid links having their pivotally connected por- ,i tions extending into position to be ractuated by and a punch member mounted in the other of said parts in operative relation to said die member, one of said members being movable relatively tothe other to operate on the work,Vv and a gage mounted on one of said parts adjacent to said gap and adjustable in the direction of the length of said gap and extendingbeyond the'open end of said gap'v to engage a portion of the work which extends at an angle to the portion of the work in said gap.

16. A punching device including a holder havinga pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart'to form between them a gap to receive the work,l a die member mounted in one of said parts anda punch member mounted in the other of said parts in operative relationto said die member, one of said members being movable relatively to the otherto operate on the work, a gage mounted on one of saidpa'rts of the holder and having sides engaging the sides of said part, and a part connecting said sides of said gage and upon which a laterally extending part ofthe work in said gap may rest, and means for adjustably securing said sides of said gage tosaid vholder part to limit the I extent to which the work may extend into said gap.

17; A punching device including a holder havinga pair ofoutwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the work, a die member mounted in one of said parts and a punch member mounted in the other of said parts in operative relation to said die member, one

18. A punching device including ing a dierand A`a, punch mounted thereon, said n punchbeing movable towardk andirom said die,

aholder hav- Y .Y 'a3-M3020 the free end of the other being movable a.k guide sleeve arranged about a part of said punch and movable into engagement with the work, a spring acting on said punch and said guide sleeve for yieldingly urging said punch into a position within said sleeve, said spring being movable toward and from the work with said punch and sleeve and being compressed when vsaid punch penetrates the work, and means for yieldingly urging said punclrsaid sleeve and said rst mentioned spring away from the work.

19. A punching device including a holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the work, a die mounted in one of said parts and'terminating at said gap, a punch in the other of said parts in operative relation to said die, a guide sleeve for said punch extending into said gap to engage the work for stripping said punch from' the work and having a ange, a pressure pad connected with said punch and spaced from said flange, a stripper spring arrangedbetween said iiange and said pad, adjustable means for spacing said pad from said flange for placing said spring under initial compression, whereby the spring strips the punch from the Work after completing the punching operation, and a yielding member for withdrawing said punch and sleeve from engagement with thev work after completion of the stripping operation.

20. A punching device including a holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receivethe work, adie mounted in one of Said parts and terminating at said gap, the other part of said holder having a hole extending completely therethrough in alinement with said die and a second hole extending at an angle to said iirst hole and intersecting the same, a punch slidably arranged in said first hole, and an actuating member slidable in said second hole and connected with said punch for moving the same into operative relation to said die and movable partly out of its hole to permit said punch to be moved out of its hole past said actuating member.

21. A punching device including a holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receive the work, a die mounted in one of said parts and terminating at said gap, the other part of said holder having a hole extending'therethrough in alinement with said die and a second hole extending at an angle to said rst hole and intersecting the same, a punch slidably arranged in said first hole for movement toward and from said die, said punch having a head which has an inclined end face, and an actuating member slidable in said second hole and having an inclined end adapted to engage said inclined face of said head to impartmovement to said punch and to hold said punch against movement out of said first hole, and which is movable in its hole out of engagement with said head to permit such punch to be moved out of its hole past said actuating member.

22. A punchingdevice includinga holder having a pair of outwardly extending parts spaced apart to form between. them a gap to receive the work, a die mounted in one of said parts and terpunch. i

s t 2,329,020 and means for coniining said row of springs with- `in said opening in said holder.

23. A unitary punching unit for punching holes horizontally and for vertical actuation, said unit` comprisinga one-piece holder having a pair of t upwardly extending parts spaced to form between them a gap to receive the work, a die mounted on one of said parts, the other of said parts having a `horizontal hole extending lengthwise completely n through the same in axial alinement with said i die, a punch movable in said hole toward and from said die, said other part having an upright hole intersecting said horizontal hole, and an actuating member slidable in said upright hole Iand coni nected with said punch for moving the same into operative relation to said die,;and out of `operative press `brake having an'elongated bed ram,

including al rail mounted on the bed of the press Y brake and having longitudinally extending T- slots, a plurality of punch units each including a holder having a base formed to extend crosswise of said rail and having holes in registration with said T-slots, boltshaving their heads arranged in said T'slotsand'extending through said holes 'in said holders for securing said units to said raill and for adjusting said units lengthwise of said rail, each of said units having 4a substantially horizontally movable p unch and a stationary die'spaced apart to form a gap to receive the relation to said punch to enable said punch to be A removed from said horizontal hole by sliding rsaid punch past said upright hole. t

` 24. A punching unit according to claim 23, and having stripping means arranged about said `25. A punching device including a work, a diemember mounted in one of saidfparts and terminatingatsaid gap,'a punch member in d n y holder hav` ing a pair of outwardly 'extending parts spaced apart to form between them a gap to receivethev the other of said parts in operative relation' to said die and movable toward and from saiddie member to operate onthe work, a stripping meni- `ber mounted on said holder for movement toward and from the work, and havingan opening through which the work engaging end of said punch may pass, a spring reacting against said stripping member and said punch for withdrawing the work engaging end of said punch into said rhole in said stripping member, and a spring weaker than said first mentionedspring and reacting against said holder and said stripping member `for yieldingly urging said punch and stripping member intoa position in which said punch is out of engagement with the work.

26. VA unitary hole punching unit comprising a one-piece housing havingan upwardly extendingr `part having a substantially horizontal hole ex- `tending completely through` said part, a die mounted on said unit in spaced relation tosaid moving said punch through the workA and normally extending across said hole and movable into dan inoperative position clear of said hole `to permit said-punch to be moved in a direction V `away from said die out of said hole for sharpening and replacing.

27. A method oi' punchinga plurality of holes horizontally in vertical portions of work by means of a plurality of punching units` each havinga horizontally movable punch actuatedby a vertil cally movable member and spaced by a gap from i its cooperating die, which includes arrangingsaid4 units on a base plate in spaced relation according to the pattern of holes required in the work, [and so that thework may enter the gaps of all` of the units, securing the units to said base plate while thus arranged, punching the' desired num" i, t ber of work-pieces, and then removingthe units i from said base plate `for use on another plate to operate on work of another type. i

` t `28. A hole punching .apparatus for use cna work, said gap being positioned forwardly of the bed and ram to facilitate placing work into the gaps of said units, each unit also having an upwardly extending actuating member located near the rear of the unit for actuating the punch and positioned to be actuated by the ram of the press A brake. i

29. Hole punching apparatus according to claim 28,and including an adapter plate secured to the ram of the press 4and extending horizontally beyond said ram for actuating said units.

V30. A method of punching 'a plurality ofholes 1 horizontally in work of diierent types, by means of a plurality of punching units, each having a horizontally movable punch actuated by a vertically movable member and spaced by a gap from its cooperating die, which includes `mounting such units on a template formed to receive the units in such spaced relation as is required bythe pattern o-fholes desired in work of one type, mounting another series of units on another template for perforating the work in accordance with i another pattern of holes, placing the irstl template onfthe `bed of apress, punching the desired number of workpieces, then removing the rst'template from the press and positioning said other template therein, and removing said units from the rst template for use on other work.

`31. A punching apparatus including a base plate, a plurality of punching units mounted on said base plate in correct relation to each other,

each punching unit having a horizontally movable punch, a vertically movable member for actuating said punch', a die with which said punch cooperates and spaced from said punch by a gap into which the work may enter, adjustable gage means on said `units for limiting the extent to which the work may be inserted into said gap, and individual pressure means mounted on each holder for yieldingly urging the work into engagement with the-gagemeans `before the work is perforated, whereby camber in the work will be taken out by saidkpressure means.

32. A punching apparatus including a base plate, a plurality of punching units mountedon said base plate incorrect relation to each other, each punching unit having a horizontally mov- `able punch, a vertically movable member Vfor actuating said punch, a die with which said punch cooperates and spaced from said punch by a gap into which the workmay enter, adjustable gage means onsaid units for limiting the extent to i which the work may be inserted into said gap,

and individualpressure means mounted on each holder and including an inclinedlink which when in its inoperative position, terminates at its lower portion adjacent to said gap, to guide the'work into said gap'saidilink when depressed engaging thework in the gap to press the work against the gage means prior to and while the work is being perforated. Y

f GEORGE F. WALES. 

